Spiral regainer.



W. M. WHITE.

SPIRAL REGMNER.

A PPUCAT|ON FILED ocnzu. ma. RENEWED 020.11.1915.

Patented July 23, 1918.

3 NETS-SHEET l 772; e/z for W. M. WHITE.

SPIRAL HEGAINEH.

APPLICATION mu) 0CT.29. I913 RENEWED 0:03.191!

1 ,27 3,559. Patented July 23, 1918.

3 SHEEIS-SHEET 2.

W. M. WHITE.

SPIRAL nusmmaa.

APPLICATION HLED OCT 29 I913 RENEWED DEC 3- IBIS- latented July 23, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI' 3.

UNITED STATES PaTENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. WHITE, 01 MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SPIRAL REGAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1918.

Application filed October 29, 1913, Serial No. 797,952. Ilenewed December 3, 1915. Serial No. 84,836.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L WILLIAM M. W urra, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spiral Regainers, of which the following is a s cifieation.

y invention'relates toimprovemcnts in water power plants, and more partieularly t0 the regaining of energy for useful work from the water after it leaves the water wheel runner.

In the usual power plant the water flowing from the runner of the water wheel is conveyed to the tail race by means of a cylindrical pipe called a draftttube. For water wheels with horizontal shafts an elbow is usually employed to collect the water from the water Wheel and deliver it to the draft tube. This elbow offers considerable resistance to the flow of the. water and causes a loss of energy.

A water wheel runner includes vanes to form passa es for the water. The vanes are shaped an disposed in such manner that water is discharged from the runner in a direction opposite to that of the rotation of the runner. Water is admitted to the runner b guide vanes usually pivoted and adjustable. In order to obtain greatest eflieiency in the present art, the water flowing from the runner must contain, the least possible energ The openings between the guide vanes and runner vanes at rated load are so related that the backward discharge from the runner vanes about equals the for'wa rd u rotation of the runner so that, the water flows out aqiiall y; that is,

without appreciable rotation or whirl, consequently the water flows through the draft tube in ap proximately parallel axial stream lilies. By. reason of this parallel equal flow the draft tube transforms the energy from velocity into pressure with best cll'cct, giving conditions for maximum eliicicney on the water wheel.

The design of a water wheel runner is, of ncoessity, such that the water llows from it with considerable velocity which contains in some instances as much as twenty per cent. of the total energy of the fall.

In order to obtain the greatest efficiency it is important to regain the greatest amount of this energy by for useful efl'ec-t on the water wheel runner. 'hen the water \vhccl is operated at part.

load the relation between the openings of the guide vanes and runner vanes is such that the water discharged from the runner ellieiency is decreased largely because of this whirling action. The whirling water presses against the draft tube \valls'and, being eonlined, the outer portion flows around and down the tube with such great velocity that the center portion of the tube is sucked up to the runner and then thrown out along and sometimes through the runner vanes. The greater portion of the excess energy in the water is consumed in thcsc eddies and whirls. ing applications Serial Nos. 709.790 and 769,791, lilod May 21'. 1913, l have provided other means of regaining the energy in the discharged watcr and transforming it. into head for useful 'efi'ectrunner.

lnow locate about the water wheel runner a irctilier to convert rotary motion of water flowing from the runner into tangential and pau'ullcl flow, flow into a dra t tube or expanding channel in which the encrgv in velocity may be el|icicully transformed into head.

The rcctilici consists of a form of spiral casing progressively increasing in transverse 95 area to acronnnodato the additional flow into it. the plane of the casing being located at right angles to the axis of rotationof the runner. The area of thespiral is such that the velocity of the water around it is nn|in- 100 transforming it into head 66 energy discharged 65 water in the draft In my co-pcndin the water wheel {and discharge this parallcl tw and 106 stream flow is maintained in condition for the greatest amount of energy transformation from velocity into pressure in the draft tube.

I thus provide means for increasing the ell'ective head on a water wheel without necessarily making use of centrifugal force, and without passz'igcs of expanding area ex-- cept the usual draft tube.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the. accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1. is a longitudinal vertical section of a typical horizontal water wheel and rectifier.

F ig. 2 is a transverse Vertical part section, and, I

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of a typical horizontal two runner water wheel and'rectifier."

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1. it will be seen that the water wheel is located in an open pit with the level of the. water above the'wat'cr wheel indicated at 10, and that the draft tubelfrom the rcctilicr extends belowthe surface of the tail water indicated at 11.

The guide vanes li'direct and control the water to the runner 13. The former discharges at 16, into the rectifier IT. A shaft H, transmits the power of the runner 13 to the couplinglfi. The shaft is supported in two bearings 18, It).

By reference to Flg. 2 it will be noted that the rectifier increases in area. from 20,

21, 22; 24*to 25. and connects to the upper end of a draft tuboat 26. For conditions of over-speed or/partload the water leaves the runner in a whirling motion as indicated by stream lines at 27. The area of the casing at 21. 23, etc is made such that a velocity is maintained with which the 'elocity at 28 may be combined with least disturham-e. shock and consequently least loss of energy. This willbo obtained when thc'vclocily in the casing is approximately equal to the velocity of the whirling water from the runner. The increase of area of the rectifier fronr 20 to 21. etc.. is such as to accommodate the increment of flow from: the runner and such that theweloeity is maintained the same from 20 to 2.5. vBy reason of the increasing area around the periphery. :nrproxiniately parallel. stream lines a-re obtamed 1n the water and the t'llllligfl fl'fillll rotary motion to tangential How is llljultrwlllltlllt great. loss of energy. lhe llowat 2G is approxum tely parallel and olaprn-oximahwly equal-velocitics and "contains energy ill the form of velocity. lhc rectifier dischzwges into an expauding'tubc at 213. in which the energy in velocity transformed into. pressure at 21 l'or pl'i'uliidiii in part the cilia-live head "win-whe l; n lhiswvay. the energy of lhe whirling water which is discharged by the runner when it is operated at overspeed on part load is conserved and used to incrcasc the power, speed and efficiency of the water wheel.

In order to produce reat power for a charge into a draft chest consisting lessen lially of two elbows leading the water from lhe runners into one channel. In Fig. 3 I have shown two runners discharging intoone rectifier. In this constructlhn two runners 30, 31, are mounted on a common shaft 32, the water being admitted to the runners through the guide vanes 33. 34. Tlle shaft 3;. is mounted in bearings 35, and is suitably connccied to a generator 36. Delloclor plates :57 are located at the discharge of each runner which guide the water to the rectifier. A spiral. casing or rectifier its. surrounds the two runners, this casing being similar to that shown in Fig. 2.

The flow from the runners 30, 31. is about the same as that maintained in the casing 38, and the direction is also approximately the same, so that these flows join together with least shock and loss of energy. In this way whirling water from the two runners is changed from rotary motion to tangential How. The rectifier is joined at 39. to a draft tube of expanding area in which the i'elocity is transformed into pressure to produce in part the effective head on the wheel, and

thus the water whccl may be operated at greater speeds. since the energy escaping from the wheel is made use of sufficiently to produce a part of the head acting on the runner to the end that the power and speed of the wheel is greatly increased.

It is obvious that the water wheel shaft may he placed in a vertical position and the plane of the spiral regainer would then be horizontal. In this position it may or may not be advisable to add the expanding pi e to the end of the spiralo The device will work with fairly good effect without this addition of the expanding pipe.

It is obvious that the constructions shown are only typical and may he modified in many ways to suit' varying conditions of speed. head and location. Such modificalions as m'e'within the scope of my claims I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. in a water power plant. the combination of a water wheel having a discharge passage. a dcllcclor located in said passage, Walls surroumliug said passage. said walls defining a space progressively increasing in from area around the periphery of the wheel, and a draft tube communicating with said passage, substantially as described.

2. In a water ower plant, the combination of a water w eel associated with a discharge space, a deflector located in said space, walls surroundin said space, said walls providing a spira conduit the cross sectional area of said conduit rogressively increasing whereby the flow of water from the water wheel ma be changed from rotary and axial to ra ial and tangential, and a conical draft tube communicating with said spiral conduit, substantially as described.

3. In a water power plant, the combination of a water wheel runner adapted to discharge water therefrom with a rotary flow, a spiral casing surroundin the rotative axis of said runner, and a arcd draft tube communicating with said spiral tube, substantially as described.

4. In a water wheel construction, the

combination of a water wheel runner and a spiral collector located about the axis of said runner and adapted to receive water therefrom, substantially as described.

5. In a water-power lant, the combination of a water wheel having a discharge passage, a deflector located in said passage, and walls surrounding said passage, said walls defining a space progressively increasin in area around the periphery of the wl eel, substantially as described.

6. In water power apparatus, the combination of a casing and a pair of runners discharging into opposite sides thereof, said casing being formed as a spiral whereby ener' in the discharged water in the form of re ocity may be changed into pressure, substantially as described.

n a device of the class described, the combination of two water wheels mounted in o posed relation, a conical deflector located at the outlet of each water wheel and a single spiral casing into which the water both said Wheels is discharged, substantially as described.

8 In a device of the class described, the combination of a spiral tube, a water wheel mounted at each side of said tube, and a deflecting plate in said tube mounted in such position with relation to the axis of the said wheels as to deflect the water discharged from said wheels into said spiral tube with maximum efliciency, substantially .as described.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of. axially alined Watcr wheels, a deflecting plate located at the discharge of both said wheels, and a single spiral draft tube into which the water discharged from said water wheels against said plate is accommodated, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a fluid motor, of a discharge passage or draft tube of spiral form increasing in cross section in the direction of the outflow therethrough.

11., The combination with a fluid motor, of a discharge passage or draft tube of s iral form increasing in cross section in t e direction of the outflow theretbrough terminating in a tangent portion.

12. The combination with a fluid motor imparting a whirl to the discharging fluid, of a graduall expanding spiral dischar e passage there or adapted to guide the d'rschargin fluid in the direction of the whirl.

13. e combination with a fluid motor havin a rotary runner, of a spiral draft tube t erefor having an annular opening to receive the water discharged from the runner. 14. The combination with a fluid motor, of a spiral draft tube therefor having an annular opening to receive the outflow from the motor, and a. closed tube receiving the tflowfrom said draft tube.

15. The combination with a fluid motor havin an axial discharge, of a spiral draft tube t erefor and a discharge passage receivin the outflow from said draft tube.

16. The combination with a fluid motor havin an axial discharge, of a draft tube there or guiding the discharged fluid away from the axis and having a central core extending into proximity to said motor, and a spiral surface connecting the outer wall ,and the core.

17. The combination with a"fluid motor havin an axial discharge, of a spiral draft tube t emfor guiding the discharging fluid away from the axis and having a central core extending into proximity with said motor.

18.-The combination with a fluid motor having an axial discharge, of a spiral draft tube therefor guiding the discharging fluid away from the axis and havin a central core having a surface of revolution extendinginto proximity with said motor.

19. The combination with a fluid motor havin an axial discharge, of a spiral flaring raft tube therefor guiding the discharging fluid away from the axis and having a central core extending into proximity with said motor.

a discharge passage or draft tube therefor having a spiral form, the inner surface of which extends to a point in proximity to the motor.

v21. The combination with a fluid motor having an axial discharge, of a draft tube therefor having a central core extending into proximity to the motor, and a spiral surface connecting the outer wall and 'the core.

22. The combination with a fluid motor having an axial discharge, of a spiral flaring 20. The combination with a flUhlHIUtOIQ Of draft tuhe therefor having a central core extending into proximity with the motor.

23. The combination with a hydraulic tnrhine having a runner of the inward and downward flow type, of a spiral draft tube developing radially and axially with respect to the runner to guide the outflow therefrom .and Increasing in Ul'UhS-SOCUOH inlho direcion of travel of thh discharging water.

24. The combination with a fluid motor of the inward flow type, of a draft tube therefor guiding the discharged fluid away from the axis and having a central core extending inlo proximity to said motor. and at least one spiral surfaoe connecting the outer wall and the core.

25. The combination with a fluid motor of the inward and downward flow type, of a draft tube therefor guiding, the discharged fluid away from the axis and having'a central core extending into proximity to said motor, and at least one spiral surface connectin the outer wall and the core.

26. he combination with a fluid motor of the inward flow type, of a draft tube therefor havin a central core extending into proximity to t ie motor, and a spiral surface connecting the outer wall and the core.

27. The combination with a fluid motor of the inward and downward flow ty 0, of a draft tube. therefor having a contra core extending into proximity to the motor, and

a spiral surface connecting the outer wall and the core.

W'ILLIAM M. WHITE.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. F. MURRAY, T. D. BUTLER. 

